McGuire and Polley Presented DSCC Outstanding Alumni Award

Dyersburg, Tennessee – Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) honored Meagan McGuire of Dyersburg and Don Polley of Trenton with the Outstanding Alumni Award April 13 inside the Student Center on the Dyersburg campus.

Kristol Sentell, president of the DSCC Alumni Association, along with Dr. Karen A. Bowyer, president of DSCC, presented the awards in front of over 200 faculty and staff during the College’s spring conference.

McGuire graduated from DSCC in 2005 with an Associate of Science degree in Secondary Education. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from The University of Tennessee at Martin in 2008 and a Master of Science degree in Education from Arkansas State University in 2010. Last year, she earned a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D) in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership from the University of Memphis. She began her teaching career in 2008 as a sixth through eighth-grade teacher at Tipton County Schools. In 2011, she became an eighth-grade teacher at Three Oaks Middle School and is currently employed at Dyer County High School where she has taught Algebra II since 2015.

McGuire was recently recognized as the 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year from the Dyer County School System. While attending DSCC, she was named to the dean’s list from 2003-2005, was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and served as a peer tutor at the Student Success Center.

“Some of my favorite college classes were taken here,” stated McGuire. “The class sizes were small so I was able to ask questions and participate in discussions. I was challenged academically, yet I always had support to help me succeed. My advisors were always available and helpful in planning my courses. I know DSCC was the foundation I needed to pursue a career in education.” McGuire resides in Dyersburg with her husband Tyler.

Polley graduated from John A. Logan Community College with an Associate of Science degree in 1983 and then earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Administration in 2005 from DSCC. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership in 2013 from Union University.

Polley began his career as a plant manager at Southern Source Tool and Manufacturing in Milan from 1995-1999. He then briefly worked as a production supervisor at Maytag Department Pierce Distribution in Humboldt before becoming employed at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Union City from 2000 to 2011. During a layoff at Goodyear from January 2003 to April 2006, he obtained his associate degree from DSCC and worked as a dock lead at Proctor & Gamble through sub-contractor Innogistics from December 2004 to April 2006. He then became employed as a product specialist at Alan Vines Automotive in Jackson from June 2014 to October 2014 before opening his own business, Don Polley & Associates, in October 2015. There he serves as a generational diversity consultant, author, speaker and millennial advocate.

Polley has served as a mentor with tnAchieves since 2014. He has volunteered with Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) through the Northwest Tennessee Development District (NWTDD) since 2015 counseling senior citizens with open enrollment for Medicare. He is a member of the Nonfiction Authors Association, the Jackson Old Hickory Rotary Club, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the:CO – a resource for entrepreneurs focusing on creating jobs and scaling businesses.

While attending DSCC, he was named to the dean’s list and honor roll. “What I liked best about DSCC were the opportunities made available for nontraditional students at all locations; the support from both faculty and staff who were available upon request; the sense of satisfaction I felt upon completing a degree that I started in the mid-70s; and the top-notch facilities,” stated Polley. “I would like to give special thanks to Jessica Jones at the DSCC Gibson County Center whose kind words of wisdom and inspiration kept me from getting overwhelmed.”

Polley currently resides in Trenton and has one daughter, Misty and two grandchildren, Lillian and Ty.

Each year, DSCC presents the Outstanding Alumni Award to nominated individuals who have excelled in their field, given back to the community, and served as positive role models. Alumni who are interested in joining the DSCC Alumni Association should contact Amy Finch, director of public information and alumni coordinator, at 731-286-3347 or finch@dscc.edu.